St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-17
President LouckS Reads an
Interesting Paper Before
the Farmers Alliance.
More Attention Should Be
Paid to Agricultural Fairs
and Less to Faces.
The Interstate Law Warmly
Endorsed and Suggestions
Ventu: ed.
No Confidence in Either Of the
Old PartieS--The Farmers
Should Pull Alone.
Special to the Globe.

kOta Farmers difidIice, III ohli"'i -
sion here this week, was a valuable
paper. 1t was one of especial interest
to farmers as we'll as of Importance TO
the general public as touching matters
that are certain to alta attention
from all classes. The document was re-
DIete with wholesome advice. wise Stlg-
gestions and plain statement of facts
that are significant. Some OF the mann
features of the address have engendered
comment by those not i'll sympathy win
the farmers movement, but no word or
criticism can be Justly made I'M
favorable to the sentiments eX-
presented or ideas and Suggestions ad-
Vanced. Mr.. LOuckS clothed MS STATE
mentS in words that clearly expressed
his thoughts, which were positive on the
points referred TO and could not he con-
Strued to mean other than WHAT WIS
intended.
A FARMERS PAPAR.
Mr.. Ioucks referred to the action of
the last annual meeting relative to the
establishment of an official organ. The
matter was referred to the executive
committee, who decided that no action
was necessary in that direction at
present.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
Efforts to have the governor appoint
practical farmers on the board or re-
gents for the Dakota Agricultural col
1ege failed. He was asked to appoint
two prominent members of the alliance
Oh the board, but the request was not
granted. Some imI r3vementS had been
made. Mr.. LouckS recommended that
the law be amended so that on the
board of regents the alliance could nave
two members, the HOrticultural associ-
alton one member and the board OF
agriculture one member.
AGRICULTURAL FAIRS.
Too little attention was given these
organizations by farmers, and thus had
degenerated into a sort Of sideShOw to
horse race. The governor refused his
assent to the legislation of last session
in aid of the fairs. They should receive
more attention from the alliance than
they do. AID legislation recommended.
with proviSO that 10 appropriation
should be devoted to racing prizes or
given where gambling is permitted on
the grounds. We must see that the ag-
ricultural and mechanical are the prin-
cipal features. Recommended dupli-
eating by the territory of the amounts
raised by counties for premiums up to
$500. A law with this provision was
passed by the last legislature, but was
vetoed by the governor.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE LAW.
This Mr.. LOucks regarded as mGye
in the right direction, although Dakota
had not yet realized any great benefits
from it, The attempt TO make the law
OdiouS had failed. and the demand for
its repeal suffered the same fate. At
first companies operating railroads in
Dakota advanced the rate on fuel and
grain nearly % per cent. claiming that
the law compelled them to do so. This
rate was soon suspended with the hope
that if the law NSaS enforced the higher
rate would be demanded. 1t was held
as a club over the head OF the farmers to
whip them into line. The answer of the
farmers and business men was that if
the law could not control the railroads
it should be amended so that it would.
The only amendment wanted was to
make the law mere stringent.
THE LAST LEGISLATURE.
An extended account of the work Of
the last general assembly, so far as it
pertained to the interests of farmers,
was given.
The speaker accepted with relue-
lance the mission to attend the legiSla-
ture at Bismarck last winter. In the
house there were tWenty-SeVen farmers,
a clear majority, but they were not pre-
pared to act in harmony.
''The other house was bankers
council and this council thrOttled such
valuable legislation as could be got
through the house. We accomplished
less than we hoped for, but more than |
expected. The alliance grew in favor.
The fair-minded and honorable, not
farmers. respected us. The railroad at
torneyS and lobbyists hated and feared
us. All of which goes to prove that we
have become a power in the land"
TIE NENT LEGISLATURE.
Mr.. LOucks thought that the bills for
the legislation desired should be care
fully prepared, in detail, beforehand.
with pains and thought, under first
class legal advice as TO their form and
conStitUtionality. There should be pro-
vision for correction of minor defects
which NAV be discovered. but in sub
stance the bills should stand just as
drawn, without any ifs or ands, they
should constitute the exact platform
upon which candidates for the legisla-
ture must stand to get our votes. A
committee of the aGlest lawyers of the
territOry-EricksOn, of Elk Point: CoDk-
lin, of WatertOWn: McCumber. of Wah-
peton, and Bangs, of Grand FOrks-has
been named, the bills Will he prepared.
and the next campaign managed on the
plan herein suggested.
POLITICAL FRIENDS.
/ have no confidence in either of the
old parties to aid lis unless we make
them. We should watch for our own
legislation. There should be a cam
paign committee TO see that every town.
Ship is duly organized. This should be
done while there is time.in the winter.
Our claims should be presented to both
parties, and they should be requested
to call all their territorial and legisIa-
tive conventions not later than Septem-
Der Il. Where reliable men can be
pledged to our measures. OH both sides.
each member may fairly vote with the
party of his choice. If our party fails
to make satisfactory nomination, and
the other does, let Us 90 for the other
fellow, Where neither party is for us
we should nominate independently
and elect. The candidates need
not necessarily be all farmers.
but they must be the friends of our
measures. / believe in the general re-
election of the friends who stood by us
before, regardless of calling. We will
never succeed unless we reward our
friends. l would recommend the APP
polhtiieiit Vi All i'lN iSoiH committee Tor
the campaign, the duty of the commit
tee TO see that every legislative district
is thoroughly organized and fitted
for work this winter. Place prin-
ciple above party and act like men. Il
do not advocate that only farmers should
receive our support. There were farm
erS in the last legislature who ought
never to be reelected. LAWYERS like
Adams and Aikens in the house and
NcCumber and GrieSen in the council.
merchants like Weiser in the council
and Williams and Schnabelt in the house
should receive our warm support All
who stood by us should be supported by
us, if they will run. The railroads have
been prompt to reward their faithful
allies. We will never succeed unless
we, also, reward our friends. 1t is an
eminently safe course to pursue to stand